Folding table for automobiles



June 14, 1932. w. F. FoLMER FOLDING TABLE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed March 13, 1931 Patented .lune 14, 1932 UNT STATES PArENri-Fice WILLIAIVI F. FOLMER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FOLMER-CI-IAPIN COR- PORATION, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK FOLDING TABLE FOR AUTOMOBILES Application filed March 13, 1931. Serial No. 522,374.

My present invention relates to tables and more particularly folding tables, and it has for its object to provide a simple, light and convenient shelf-like table for use in-automobiles which will be rigidly and securely supported on a forward seat for use by occupants of a rear seat. The improvements are directed in part toward arrangements whereby the table legs do n-ot interfere with the foot room beneath; whereby the usual robe rail of the front seat is utilized in the combination; and whereby the legs are spread to the conformation of the supporting seat when extended yet come within the confines of the table top when folded.

To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view of the seats of an automobile, showing in end elevation and in operative position a table constructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View thereof much enlarged;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mounting plate for one of the legs; Y

Fig. a is a sectional view on the scale of Fig. 2 through a fragment of the table top, showing an inner face of one of the legs in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of a fragment of the table top, showing the leg folded against the same;

Fig. 6 is a. further enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 8, and

Fig. S is a plan view of one of the hinge supports.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

In the practice of my invention, I utilize the robe rail l that runs transversely across the back of a front seat 2 to arrange the -table for the convenience of the occupants of rear seat 3. In the present instance, I have shown the usual metal bar or yokeshaped member pivoted to the seat at its ends at 4, but the device will also work with the iiexible cordage rail. The table consists essentially of a top 5 and two tapered legs 6 extending in the operative positions of Figs. l and 2 at a spreading angle from the edge of the table and foldable against the under side thereof. The legs are wedged down between the robe rail and the back of the seat, as shown in Fig. l, which is the reason for the taper while their spread or inclination so suits the angle of the back as to support the table top 5 in a horizontal orl level position.

The legs 6 are preferably flat, as shown, and they are secured to the table by means of hinges, each consisting of an elongated leaf 7 fastened to the leg, a pintle 8 and a leaf 9V on the table. In the operative positions of Figs. l and2, the pintle 8 or turning axis extends at right angles to the edge of the table, so that it aiiords maximum strength in bracing the legs edgewise against the seat back and in holding the table top firm. It is obvious, however, that if these legs in this operative position and that of Fig. 4L were folded up flat against the bottom of the table, their ends would project from the edge of the table, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, whereas it is desired to make the tabl-e as compact as possible. I, therefore, pivot the leaf 9 of the hinge, so that the leg may be rotated inwardly to a position shown in Fig. 5, in which its outer edge is coincident with that of the table. This is accomplished in the following manner:

Screwed to the underside of the table beneath the leaf 9 is a mounting plate 10 carrying the pivot 11 on which the said leaf turns to swing the leg inward and outward, being held by the pivot and also by headed guide pins 12 on the mounting plate extend-V ing through arcuate slots 13 in the leaf that are of sufficient length to permit the limited relative movement required and define the'two positions of the legs. These positions are further defined and the legs yieldably locked therein by means of a knobV or soV protrusion 14 stamped up on the inner side hinges, one leaf of each hinge being fasof the leaf 9 and engaging', as shown in F ig. tened to the le and the other rotatable on 7, in one or the other of two sockets or openthe underside o the table top, for the purpose ings 15 and 16 in the mounting plate. The described.

headed pivot 11 holds the plates closely together, but there is suicient spring in the leaf to permit thelocking projection 14 to ride from engagement with one to engagement with the other.

A table constructed in accordance with my invention may be lightly made of thin boards and yet be strong and rigid. The legs interfere in no way with the foot room ordinarily accorded the occupants of the rear seat and when the table is folded and out of use, it may be slipped back of the robe rail and held on end thereby close to the rear of the front seat.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a folding table or the like, the combination with a table top,'of a pair of legs, a pair of hinges, one leaf of each hinge being fastened to the leg and the other rotatable on the underside of the table top and inclined outwardly from the rear edge of the latter when extended, and a spring catch for retaining the rotary leaf in place in both the operative and inoperative positions of the legs.

2. In a folding table or the like, the combination with a table top, of a pair of legs, a pair of hinges, one leaf of each hinge being fastened to the leg` and the other rotatable on the underside of the table top and inclined outwardly from the rear edge of the latter when extended, and a mounting plate proc vided with headed guides for the rotary leaf and with depressions, the rotary leaf being [itted with a spring catch cooperating with the depressions to retain it for both the operative and inoperative positions of the legs.

'I he combination with an automobile seat having an inclined back, and a robe rail ruiming across the same, of a table having a top and a pair of tapered legs wedged between the robe rail and the back and inclined voutwardly to agree with the angle of the back and maintain the table level.

fl. In a folding table or the like, the cembination with an automobile seat having an inclined back and having a robe rail extending transversely thereof and spaced outwardly therefrom, of a table top having a pair of tapered leO's inclined outwardly from the underside thereof at one edge and wedged between the robe rail and the back to maintain the table level.

5. In a folding table or the like, thev combination with an automobile :seat having an inclined back and having a robe rail extending transversely thereof and spaced'outwardly therefrom, of a table top, a pair of tapered legs extending at an angle forwardly from the underside ofk the edge of vthe top and wedged between the robe and the seat back to support the top horizontal-ly, and a pair of WILLIAM F. FOLMER.

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